On July 14, 1808, at the age of only 18, Paradis set out on her 3-day expedition alongside seven men to successfully complete the 8th ascent in history. She was wearing a heavy winter dress, leather town shoes, and whatever itchy, long undergarments women wore at the time (most likely her attire was 14+ pounds!) Battling freezing temperatures, high altitude nausea, and extremely technical and crevasse-ridden terrain, Paradis displayed remarkable perseverance.
When Marie Paradis reached the summit, she was so spent that “she begged her male companions to throw her into the nearest crevasse to end her misery." Thankfully, Paradis persisted and made it down safely. Upon returning to Chamonix (the town at the base of Mont Blanc), the residents celebrated this historic expedition. Following her achievement, Paradis became an innkeeper in Chamonix and was known as "Marie de Mont Blanc." She left treats for other climbers attempting the peak and congratulated the next woman to summit, which did not happen until 30 years later!
Marie Paradis' pioneering spirit inspires us daily to tackle challenges, break barriers, persist and persevere. We honor the legacy of this remarkable woman with our name. We hope Marie would celebrate the strides we are making at Paradis Sport to outfit today's women for (more comfortable) adventure and challenge!
